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Monday, November 28, 2011

Cyber (Shadow) Monday Giveaway: CONTROL POINT by Myke Cole

A super-special giveaway from the post-Thanksgiving, pre-Christmas season

So, it’s that time of year again: people are finally get over their tryptophan poisoning, and are getting ready for celebrating the giving of presents. (That doesn’t sound quite right, but it’ll do for now…)

In honour of this festive time, and thanks to a snafu at the Penguin post department, I present Civilian-Reader’s Cyber Shadow Monday giveaway: TWO advance reader copies of Myke Cole’s new guns-‘n’-sorcery novel, Control Point.

Want to know more? Keep reading…

Because this is a pretty special giveaway – or, at least, I think it is, having already read and loved the novel – I will require you to do a little more than just submit your name for consideration.

A couple weeks back, Alyssa and I had the pleasure of having a drink with Myke here in New York, and we discussed what to do with the couple of spare copies I had of Control Point. At one point during the evening, we talked about Patrick Rothfuss’s The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man’s Fear – specifically, the fact that we have different opinions as to which one is better. So, we’re taking the debate to you readers.

In order to win one of the two copies of Myke’s book, tell me which of Rothfuss’s two books you think is best, and why.

Submissions in the comments or via email – civilian.reader[at]hotmail.co.uk

Haven’t read both? Tell my what you did or did not like about the one you have read. Haven’t read either? Um… tell me why not? I’ll be looking at argument and also style, so feel free to be creative.

The contest is open until midnight (EST) December 5th, and I’ll announce winners shortly after.

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As mentioned above, I’ve already read Control Point. I’ll be posting the review early next year. Needless to say, I loved it – it’s a great premise, the writing is superb, and the action scenes are intense and engrossing. It’s awesome, and everyone needs to read it. It’s already generating a good deal of buzz, so entering this contest is a good way for you to get your hands on a copy earlier than most other people.

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UPDATE (December 7th):

I wanted to add and share something a reader sent in while this giveaway was running. It’s an amazing little poem, by Mia C:

I have read neither because I am a failure as a SFF reader and fan. I repent and with my contrite heart vow to read both of these lauded tomes with the utmost haste. If I win a copy of Control Point, however, they will have to be put to the back burner because that will become the next book on the pile to read.

The Name of the Wind is the better book, for me, because of the worldbuidling that sets it apart from The Wise Man's Fear. The story telling of Scarpi, the myth/legend/tale about Tehlu and Encanis, Haliax and and Lanre, and everything about the Chandrian were all unique and vivid. Sadly, these elements which to a degree drove Kvothe were mostly absent from The Wise Man's Fear. Book 2 was amazing, but it didn't answer or further the questions I and many others want to know more about.

First and best reason I could come up with was the Plum bomb. In a double handful of pages Rothfuss got me laughing so hard there were tears in my eyes, and then completely flipped it around so I had tears of sympathy while he was heartsick with Auri.

At another level we get to see some of the foundation, stripped of his guarded nature, that defines Kvothe . His music - everything he owns to see Fela naked. Except his lute! His animosity with Ambrose, the importance of Admissions, and the fact that he knows in his bones that assaulting Fela is impossible are all shown in one hilarious scene. And, lastly, the hidden pain of his parents' death when he's left alone that night.

They're both beautiful books but no scene in Name that I can remember communicated nearly as much to the reader with such strength.

I've only read "The Name of the Wind" (on the Kindle), with the pitiful excuse that I simply haven't had time yet to read "The Wise Man's Fear". I actually have a (signed!) copy of it sitting on my desk, but I'm saving it to read it over Christmas.

However, as to which is best, I have to come at it bass-ackward and say "The Wise Man's Fear" because I have the previously mentioned signed copy, even though I've forbidden myself to start until I have time to finish it. Make no mistake, I really enjoyed "The Name of the Wind", but let's face it, signed hardbacks FTW.

As for Control Point, I actually bid on a signed ARC that was being auctioned for charity, but unfortunately, I didn't win.